Rewind Post: Lone Ranger Christianity– when a person tries to be a follower of Christ all on their own, without any authority, relationships or accountability.
I used to be a Lone Ranger Christian- set my own rules, played my own game. Yeehaaw! Sounds like fun, but even the Lone Ranger had Tonto by his side, watching his back, helping him out and kicking some serious tail! Before too long as a Lone Ranger Christian, I got my tail seriously kicked, over and over again. Sadly, I see a lot of people go through the same thing every day. Lone Ranger Christianity breeds all kinds of forms of faith, with no real limit or constraint other than one’s personal belief or opinion. It is a reality of the world we live in and a struggle for many of us.
What is the opposite of Lone Ranger Christianity? A phrase we hear alot of: Biblical community. I asked the question last week, “What is Biblical community?” & received great responses, thanks guys!
@MarcyMcConnell authenticity, growth, fruit/results
@NoStonesThrown the way the church is responding to Haiti and other needs. That’s biblical community.
@CFlemmingVisual A Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered network of interdependent nurturing relationships…
Josh Snead A living, thriving and selfless body of believers governed by The Word and seeking relationship with Him.
Hallie Arnold A Biblical Community is not just Reading and studying the Word together, but seeking it’s relevance in one another’s lives and holding each other accountable in doing as it commands!
It is interesting to see these truths evidenced through the Scriptures in the early church: “They committed themselves to the apostle’s teaching (Word/Christ-centered), the life together, the common meal (accountability & relationships), and prayer (receiving the Spirit). Acts 2:42. In verse 45, the writer says “they sold whatever they owned and pooled together their resources to meet needs.” (much like Haiti). In verse 47, he goes on to say that “Every day their number grew.” (growth, fruit, results)
Here is a great set of questions you can ask yourself to tell if you are a Lone Ranger Christian or not:
1. Do you have the Word of God in your life regularly, centering your life on who you believe has authority on your life (Christ as revealed through the Word) not your own opinions?
2. Do you have accountability, living life close enough with others to help you live the way you say you believe?
3. Do you have prayer in your life? This is the way God will empower your belief and help you to be who He has called you to be, through His Spirit.
4. Are you helping meet other’s needs because of your belief? This includes trusting God with your resources as you help meet these needs.
5. Are you seeing growth or “fruit” in your life as a result of what you believe? What is different in your life because of your relationship with Christ? Who is different in your life, because of Christ living through you? The Bible uses the example of trees without fruit, claiming fairly harsh consequences of trees without fruit.
If the answer to any of these is no, you may be some version of a Lone Ranger Christian! Without his Word, you have no authority in your life. Without relationships, you have no accountability. Without prayer, no have no source of connection or power. Without serving others or meeting other’s needs you have real love for others (yeah, I said it). Without others in your life helping you grow, you have no legs to your faith.
Don’t Be a Lone Ranger Christian! Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto! Ask God to give you the wisdom to see what you need to to do to leave the prairies and step into community. What can you do to take a step in the right direction? Who can you seek out? Please share your ideas in the comments.
